It's Official ! Pinball in the wild in SE michigan is Dead and Gone !! a sad day !!

[Brian Lenker]

As I am sure most everyone in SE Michigan is aware of the Fact that Van Dyke Sport (AKA Butterfly ) is closing soon. I know most of us regard it a a pit, a hole. a dump. That said. It is to the best of my knowledge the LAST of the large scale pinball halls / arcades in SE Michigan, and soon it will be gone. I am about 50 yrs old, and have been playing at butterfly/vds since the mid 1970's , I also used to play at the Other Big pinball halls How many of you remember Walkers Pinball Palace at 12 mile and dequindre ??? GONE !! The Galaxy Arcade right across from Macomb mall??? GONE ?? And how many remember Wizard's arcade ?? GONE ! even Aladdin's castle , the Gator arcade on Woodward, and Flipper Mcgee's in Rochester. all Gone !

I am sure there are a couple of other smaller venues that I forgot that have since disappeared. I just find it a sad time, the end of what was once a huge pinball era, maybe it does not matter to most of you, I mean we all have a collection of our own, or belong to a private club or a group that travels from private location to private location to enjoy our games. there are a handful of small public clusters of pinball around..but few and far between.

Maybe I am alone in feeling all nostalgic and somewhat sad to see this happen, that the mega pinball hall arcade has perished from our local landscape , like all of the Drive in Theaters we all once loved and enjoyed. Like I said. I know most people/ pinheads regarded VDS/Butterfly as a Hole with beat, dirty tables, But just remember, when it closes here in a short time that Gone is Gone , and the big pinball hall in SE Michigan will be a thing of the past, never to be seen again.
I know I ramble, but I have been thinking about how all good things must end, and just thought I would share my thoughts.

Brian Lenker
Madison hts , MI

[g***@hotmail.com]

As I am sure most everyone in SE Michigan is aware of the Fact that Van Dyke Sport (AKA Butterfly ) is closing soon. I know most of us regard it a a pit, a hole. a dump. That said. It is to the best of my knowledge the LAST of the large scale pinball halls / arcades in SE Michigan, and soon it will be gone. I am about 50 yrs old, and have been playing at butterfly/vds since the mid 1970's , I also used to play at the Other Big pinball halls  How many of you remember Walkers Pinball Palace at 12 mile and dequindre ???  GONE !!  The Galaxy Arcade right across from Macomb mall???  GONE ??  And how many remember Wizard's arcade ??  GONE ! even Aladdin's castle , the Gator arcade on Woodward, and Flipper Mcgee's in Rochester. all Gone !
 I am sure there are a couple of other smaller venues that I forgot that have since disappeared. I just find it a sad time, the end of what was once a huge pinball era, maybe it does not matter to most of you, I mean we all have a collection of our own, or belong to a private club or a group that travels from private location to private location to enjoy our games. there are a handful of small public clusters of pinball around..but few and far between.
Maybe I am alone in feeling all nostalgic and somewhat sad to see this happen,  that the mega pinball hall arcade has perished from our local landscape , like all of the Drive in Theaters we all once loved and enjoyed. Like I said. I know most people/ pinheads regarded VDS/Butterfly as a Hole with beat, dirty tables, But just remember, when it closes here in a short time that Gone is Gone , and the big pinball hall in SE Michigan will be a thing of the past, never to be seen again.
I know I ramble, but I have been thinking about how all good things must end, and just thought I would share my thoughts.
Brian Lenker
Madison hts , MI

All the places I played pinball are long gone. Legalised gambling
killed it off, maybe WMS saw the trend when they pulled the plug!

[silverball]

These are the exact reasons I have preserved my own "Pinball Hall"
with over 80 of my faves from the 70s-80s.

[Todd S.]

The owners of the Butt-Fly killed it themselves with a total disregard
to building and property upkeep. Heck they never cleaned the games
accept for a simple glass wipe a couple times a month. The only
things keeping them in business was the bar and the golf driving
ranges. They must have had a great deal with the health and building
inspectors under the table wise to have them remain open as long as
they did.

Wish the employees well.
Todd S.

Post by silverball
These are the exact reasons I have preserved my own "Pinball Hall"
with over 80 of my faves from the 70s-80s.

[Mick McDonald]

While I will miss the place to some extent, it's a far cry from pinball on location being dead in Michigan. I too spent much time at Van Dyke Sports Lounge, dropping much coin there since the 90's and even in to the 2000's. But there are a lot of places to play in Michigan still.

Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum Farmington Hills, MI.
Shark Club Howell, MI.
Pinball Pete's Ann Arbor, MI.
Pinball Pete's East Lansing, MI.
The Pyramid Scheme Grand Rapids, MI.
The Meanwhile Grand Rapids, MI.
Stella's Lounge Grand Rapids, MI.
Ye Olde Saloon Royal Oak, MI.
One Eyed Betty's Ferndale, MI.
Klassic Arcade Gobles, MI.

Extra special props to the Grand Rapids pinball locations. They are really kicking it up a notch and working hardcore to bring pinball on location back to life. Head up to Pyramid or Meanwhile on any given night and watch the coin drop flow!

[jammer74]

My parents met at wizzards.
I am a product of the 70's.
And I wonder why..........
Lol.

I stopped at butterfly just yesturday with my family for a few games
of tron after our trip to the zoo .My 3 yr old son loves the movie and
pinball. I wanted him to be able to play it before they close.
It's a shame we will have a tougher time finding a lineup that big as
he gets older
, more ability ,and more aware of gameplay.

And yes he's looking forward to MPE.

[jammer74]

Post by jammer74
My parents met at wizzards.
I am a product of the 70's.
And I wonder why..........
Lol.
I stopped at butterfly just yesturday with my family for a few games
of tron after our trip to the zoo .My 3 yr old son loves the movie and
pinball. I wanted him to be able to play it before they close.
It's a shame we will have a tougher time finding a lineup that big as
he gets older
, more ability  ,and more aware of gameplay.
And yes he's looking forward to MPE.

Have to clarify the Detroit zoo for bunnyville not patz.
Sorry

[MrBally]

Post by jammer74

Post by jammer74
My parents met at wizzards.
I am a product of the 70's.
And I wonder why..........
Lol.
I stopped at butterfly just yesturday with my family for a few games
of tron after our trip to the zoo .My 3 yr old son loves the movie and
pinball. I wanted him to be able to play it before they close.
It's a shame we will have a tougher time finding a lineup that big as
he gets older
, more ability  ,and more aware of gameplay.
And yes he's looking forward to MPE.

Have to clarify the Detroit zoo for bunnyville not patz.
Sorry

Well, I figured it wasn't the Binder Park zoo located 22 miles from
PATZ or the Kalamazo Air Zoo two miles away....

[Brad]

The game room is where friends would meet up..bullshit/play some game
with the quarters you stole from your moms piggy bank..sneak our an
smoke your first cigarette. These were not the clean sterile game room
in peoples homes. These were usually poorly lit, dirty and smelly

--
Bra
This USENET post sent from http://rgparchive.co

[EZ E]

New Flash, It's been dead for years! Games on "location" days are gone

--
EZ
This USENET post sent from http://rgparchive.co

[The Junkman]

Post by Brian Lenker
As I am sure most everyone in SE Michigan is aware of the Fact that Van Dyke Sport (AKA Butterfly ) is closing soon. I know most of us regard it a a pit, a hole. a dump. That said. It is to the best of my knowledge the LAST of the large scale pinball halls / arcades in SE Michigan, and soon it will be gone. I am about 50 yrs old, and have been playing at butterfly/vds since the mid 1970's , I also used to play at the Other Big pinball halls How many of you remember Walkers Pinball Palace at 12 mile and dequindre ??? GONE !! The Galaxy Arcade right across from Macomb mall??? GONE ?? And how many remember Wizard's arcade ?? GONE ! even Aladdin's castle , the Gator arcade on Woodward, and Flipper Mcgee's in Rochester. all Gone !
I am sure there are a couple of other smaller venues that I forgot that have since disappeared. I just find it a sad time, the end of what was once a huge pinball era, maybe it does not matter to most of you, I mean we all have a collection of our own, or belong to a private club or a group that travels from private location to private location to enjoy our games. there are a handful of small public clusters of pinball around..but few and far between.
Maybe I am alone in feeling all nostalgic and somewhat sad to see this happen, that the mega pinball hall arcade has perished from our local landscape , like all of the Drive in Theaters we all once loved and enjoyed. Like I said. I know most people/ pinheads regarded VDS/Butterfly as a Hole with beat, dirty tables, But just remember, when it closes here in a short time that Gone is Gone , and the big pinball hall in SE Michigan will be a thing of the past, never to be seen again.
I know I ramble, but I have been thinking about how all good things must end, and just thought I would share my thoughts.
Brian Lenker
Madison hts , MI

At Allentown spring pinball show 2011 i a saw for sale in the parking lot in the fleamarket the Large Galaxy Arcade sign. A vendor inside ended up with it at the days end.A piece of Michigan in NJ

Mark the junkman